Guard for gutters.



' A. G. YATES.

GUARD FOR GUTTERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1913.

1,101,047, Patented June 23, 1914.

ALONZO G. YATES, OF ALEXANDRIA CSUNTY, VIRGINIA.

GUARD FOR GUTTEBS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 23, mm.

Application filed November 4, 1813. Serial No. 799,218.

To all 1071 0m it may concern Be it known that I, Arorzzo COLT Yarns, a citizen of the United States, residing in the county of Alexandria and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Guards for Gutters, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to means for preventing leaves, sticks, and like trash from entering the gutters of roofs, and the like.

It has been attempted to employ many structures for this purpose, including screens of wire mesh, but experience has demonstrated that the stems of the leaves, the ends of the sticks, etc, will catch in tne mesh, and thus hold the material on the guard. As a result, the guard soon becomes covered with accumulated material, which constitutes a cover for the gutter, directing the water entirely over the same.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel structure that will prevent, to a very material degree, the ontrance of refuse, will not catch and hold such refuse over the gutter, but will direct it beyond the same, and finally is exceedingly inexpensive to manufacture and to install.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a roof and gutter, showing a portion of the guard in place over the latter. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view through the same, and Fig. 3 is diagram in plan, illustrating the employment of a plurality of guard sections or members.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment illustrated, the portion of the roof disclosed, is designated at, and the gutter that receives the water therefrom, is illustrated at 5. It will be understood that both these structures can be of any ordinary or desired formation.

The guard consists of lengths or sections or members. Each length or member comprises a single wire bent into sinuous form, producing a screen that is somewhat wider than the gutter, which screen is thus composed of transverse rods or bars 6 connected alternately by looped portions 7. The rods or bars 6 are preferably disposed in substantially parallel relation, and it will be noted by reference to Fig. 1 that the space between them, for the entire width of the gutter, is unobstructed. One side of this screen or guard rests upon the roof, while the other side is arranged beyond the outer margin of the gutter, so that the loops 7 are thus outside the gutter. The portion which overlies the roof may be fastened thereto at intervals by any suitable means, as for example, staples 8, said staples being illustrated merely as one form of fastening means.

It will, of course, be understood that the width of this screen or guard depends 011 the width of the gutter employed, different widths being made for different size gutters. it will also be UDClOlSLOOCl that the gage of the wire and the space between the cross rods or bars 6 depends upon the particular conditions to be met with. In any event, it will be clear that any obstruction which may be deposited on this guard will readily pass downwardly over the same and be discharged over the edge of the gutter, and this passage will be assisted by rain water which may be discharged from the roof. There being no cross bars or other obstructingfeatures forming a part of the screen over the gutter, there is nothing for the stems of leaves, and the like to catch upon.

In the manufacture of the device, it will be understood that these guards will be made in sui able lengths, which will be arranged end to end and suitably fastened, preferably in a pivotal manner, so that they can be swung up on the roof, should it be desired to gain access to the interior of the gutter.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A guard for gutters comprising a screen formed of sinuous wire, the folds of which produce spaced bars of suflicient length to extend across the gutter and have unobstructed spaces between them, the width of the gutter.

2. A guard for gutters comprising a screen formed of sinuous wire, the folds of which produce substantially straight parallel spaced bars of sufficient length to extend across the gutter, the spaces between said bars being unobstructed.

3. A guard for gutters, comprising a screen formed of separate lengths, each length comprising a sinuous wire having transverse bars that extend across the gutter with unobstructed spaces between the same.

4. A guard for gutters, comprising a screen formed of sinuous wire having trans verse bars longer than the width of the gutter, the looped ends connecting adjacent bars being disposed beyond the gutter.

5. A guard for gutters, comprising a screen formed of sinuous Wire having transverse bars longer than the width of the gutter, the said bars being spaced apart and the spaces between them being unobstructed, the looped ends at one side of said screen resting on the roof, and means engaging certain of said looped ends to secure the guard to the roof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

B. G. FosTER, E. G. MCCARTHY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

